Small ball suddenly became in fashion, a style of play that lends itself to an up-and-down game, a game where shots are aplenty, where any stop is viewed as crucial.

Such would be the case in the frenetic fourth on Tuesday night, one of those rare evenings where bigs were basically told to sit and watch from the comfort of the bench.

This wasn’t a case of which team would score, but how quickly one can find the bottom of the basket.

Closing out games has been one area the Raptors have found to be elusive, their latest challenge being provided by the visiting Denver Nuggets, who wouldn’t allow a depleted roster to undermine their focus.

Entertainment wise, this was among the season’s best, made even more memorable by how the final period would play out, how fans were able to relish a Raptors win on a night when the outcome was literally decided on the final possession.

At one point, there were four point guards on the floor, a glorified track meet.

At one point, Rudy Gay would be banished to the bench after picking up his fifth foul.

With the margin for error so slim, every possession, especially in the last minute, became precious.

The Raptors were able to control a rebound, an extra possession that allowed the team to draw up an iso for Gay on the right wing, his sweet spot.

Gay would deliver a basket with 4.8 seconds remaining, the Raptors would force a tough shot from Ty Lawson, who was simply sublime, and victory would be achieved.

What a night, what a game, what an ending that would see the Raptors eke out a 109-108 win.

For Gay, it would be his second game-winning shot in Toronto’s past three games, an identical set from the same spot on the court where he’s able to take his man off the dribble and force teams to either play him straight up or send help.

“It just feels good to get a win,’’ said Gay, whose foul troubles prevented him from getting any kind of rhythm. “Obviously, it’s not a game I’m proud of, but I’m proud to get this win.

“I’m happy the team still had confidence in me.”

Given their lack of transition defence and inability to stop the ball, Dwane Casey wasn’t overly happy with his team’s defence.

In the end, though, they did double Lawson, who was forced into a desperate runner at the buzzer.

“He is a big-time player,’’ Casey said of Gay. “He is a closer. His roll card has ‘closer’ all across the front of it.”

The Raptors called a time out and went to Gay, who stepped up in overtime last Friday when the Raptors gutted out a win in Indy in a very physical game.

Tuesday night would prove to be the antithesis, but the ending was eerily similar.

“He makes it look easy out there,’’ said Johnson of Gay. “He’s comfortable with his shot. Teams have to focus on him so much that it frees all of us. That’s why I was able to come down with rebound.”

When they protect the basketball, make the extra pass and pick up their man in transition, the Raptors have shown an ability to be competitive.

Danilo Gallinari (sinus infection), Andre Iguodala (cervical strain) and Wilson Chandler (groin), three wings capable of going off at any time, were unavailable for the visitors.

To their credit, the Raptors took full advantage by pushing the pace, creating a tempo that allowed the home side to lead by as many as 13 points in the opening quarter.

Jonas Valanciunas was getting to the line and making his free throws, the ball was swinging side to side and the Raptors were turning over the Nuggets, who trailed 28-21 after the opening 12 minutes.

Passivity began to surface in Toronto’s game, shots were failing to drop and a general indifference that bordered on cockiness would characterize the Raptors.

It’s never a good sign when lob passes are attempted at the expense of forays, when players are slow in closing out on shooters, when heaves early in the shot clock become common.

Against an undermanned Denver side, the Raptors should have seized on the opportunity, but they couldn’t.

By the break, it was a two-point game, a 54-52 Raptors lead that should have been greater had they been able to sustain their level of play.

Gay would pick up his third foul in the second quarter with 4:30 left in the period.

The Raptors ran their offence through Gay, who would get called with his fourth foul barely two minutes into the third quarter.

Lawson would emerge as the game’s most explosive player, dishing when necessary, looking to score, drawing fouls and picking Toronto’s pockets cleanly in the open floor.

Lawson would lead all scorers with 29 points.

John Lucas III ignited the Raptors with a three-point shooting display that saw him drain four in a row in the fourth.

Casey then turned to Gay, who returned with 4:50 left after picking up his fifth foul three minutes into the period.

The fans’ restlessness would be unleashed when Andrea Bargnani stepped into a three-point shot that barely hit front iron.

Fields returning to where dreams began

Landry Fields is set to return to basketball’s mecca, the world’s most famous arena where the small forward’s hoops dreams would become a reality.

The New York Knicks took a flyer on Fields in the second round three years ago, providing an opportunity at a time when not many teams would.

“I’m thankful for that organization,’’ said Fields, following Tuesday night’s riveting 109-108 Raptors win over the visiting Denver Nuggets. “They gave me an opportunity and I’m excited to be going back there and seeing my friends from that team and in that organization.”

Fields has battled through back spasms, finally able to play on Sunday when the Raptors hosted to the New Orleans Hornets.

Against the Nuggets, he saw the floor for close to 15 minutes and looked very much at ease, running the floor, making shots and getting to the foul line.

Most of Fields’ playing time came in the third quarter, a stretch in which he scored eight points by attacking the rim.

Wednesday’s visit to Madison Square Garden will be Fields’ first since the Raptors signed him to a lucrative offer sheet, which many viewed as a pre-emptive move to prevent the Knicks from getting their hands on Steve Nash.

Money, clearly, has not changed Fields, who remains one of the most engaging and enlightened players in the NBA.

Having played in front of New York’s highly educated hoops fans, Fields understands the atmosphere that’s produced.

This time, though, he’ll be on the opposing team.

“There’s just a different kind of atmosphere,’’ he said. “From the fans to the arena’s history, it’s big time. It’s show time.”

And if allotted minutes, it’ll be Fields’ time to show what he can do against his former team.

Raptors golden in win over Nuggets

Rudy Gay leads the way with clutch game-winning shot

Small ball suddenly became in fashion, a style of play that lends itself to an up-and-down game, a game where shots are aplenty, where any stop is viewed as crucial.

Such would be the case in the frenetic fourth on Tuesday night, one of those rare evenings where bigs were basically told to sit and watch from the comfort of the bench.

This wasn’t a case of which team would score, but how quickly one can find the bottom of the basket.

Closing out games has been one area the Raptors have found to be elusive, their latest challenge being provided by the visiting Denver Nuggets, who wouldn’t allow a depleted roster to undermine their focus.

Entertainment wise, this was among the best, made even more memorable by how the final period would play out.

At one point, there were four point guards on the floor.

At one point, Rudy Gay would be banished to the bench after picking up his fifth foul.